Cardioliths in 19th century medical literature

Abstract

During 19th century the term “cardiolith” was widely used to describe a cluster of cardiac entities that could cause sudden death. Blood clots, polypoid growths, microorganisms and inflammation were implicated. Scientists of the era described formations that could enter any heart chamber after having been formed in any portion of the cardiac substance and could provoke a deadly thrombus or embolus. While pathologist and bacteriologist Auguste Sheridan Delépine (1855–1921), was the first who used the term “cardiolith” in his treatise “Description of a cardiolith” in 1890, a series of researchers noted the phenomenon, forming the “School of Cardiolithists”.

Keywords

• Heart
• Thrombus
• Cardilith
• Auguste Sheridan Delépine